Snowflake

 

image NOAA

The next time someone calls you SNOWFLAKE, my advice is to chill out and consider yourself a marvel of nature.  And the name-caller a scientific philistine.

The formation of a snowflake begins by means of the combination of a pollen or dust particle, a water droplet and extreme cold conditions. When a water droplet combines with the particle and falls to the ground.  Water vapor freezes to form an ice crystal - a symmetrical form - as a consequence of the internal order of the water molecules. 

It was a fella from Vermont - Wilson 'Snowflake' Bentley - became the first individual to photograph a snowflake in January of 1885.  He eventually photographed more than five thousand snowflakes without ever locating a duplicate.

What is it that creates the conditions of non-identical snowflakes?

Temperature at the front end and to a lesser extent humidity are primary contributors to shape.  The formation of a single arm is a consequence of the atmospheric conditions as the ice crystal descends thru changing layers of temperature and humidity contributing to a change in pattern.

With so many snowflakes and permutations in conditions as they descend each and every crystal forms in its own unique pattern.

It is a wonder of water molecular science that creates the conditions of each crystal to be unique!

You can learn more about Wilson A. Bentley here.